The leather fire fighting helmet is an internationally recognised symbol representing the history of fire fighting and in particular the firefighter. The term Leatherhead actually has two meanings. One of which means an old style leather fire fighting helmet worn by fire-fighters and secondly a colloquial slang term for firefighter who wears a leather fire fighting helmet. 

    Most leather fire fighting helmets were adorned with the statue of an eagle which secured a leather front to the fire fighting helmet, the eagle as become very symbolic over the years. History states that the eagle was actually sculpted as a memorial for a fallen fire fighter in the early 1800’s and its presence is still retained today.

    Quite often many of the eagles on the leather fire fighting helmet have become dented and damaged and detached due to becoming caught in wires and other various obstacles. Some fire departments have resorted to the use of more modern composite material helmets but there is still a die hard following of the original leather fire fighting helmet and eagle.

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The Leather Fire Fighting Helmet